UEFA chief Platini throws down gauntlet to German Chancellor Merkel

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UEFA chief: Final will be 'beautiful'

Story highlights

Platini confident German Chancellor Merkel would attend Euro 2012 final if Germany playing

Merkel and other European leaders have threatened boycott over political situation in Ukraine

Platini stands firm on UEFA's new Financial Fair Play Rules

UEFA chief remains opposed to introduction of goal-line technology

UEFA president Michel Platini is confident German Chancellor Angela Merkel would attend the final of Euro 2012 in Ukraine -- if Germany reach the tournament's showpiece in Kiev on July 1.

Together with European Union commissioners and several other Western politicians, Merkel has threatened to boycott the month-long tournament, which Ukraine is co-hosting with Poland next month, in sympathy with jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

"I'm not worried about the situation," Platini told CNN in an exclusive interview ahead of Saturday's Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the German city.

"The politicians they are in their role and the Ukrainians they are in their role. I'm in my role and that is not to do politics, it's not to do religion and not to interfere in everything.

"That means they can say what they want -- we continue to organize the Euro. If Germany is in final of the Euro I would be sure that Madame Merkel would come to the final."

Such a scenario -- and it is very possible given Germany are one of the tournament favorites -- would represent something of a u-turn for Merkel given earlier this month she told the Bundestag, the lower house of the German Parliament, that in Ukraine and Belarus "people are still suffering under dictatorship and repression."

No regrets

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Europe's Ukrainian dilemma – Next month sees the start of football's European Championships, arguably the toughest competition in world football. Ukraine will co-host the event with Poland, but it has been overshadowed by the treatment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been in prison since last October on charges of abuse of power.

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From Orange Revolution to Euro 201212 photos

Bruised and battered – It is alleged by Tymoshenko's supporters that charges against the former prime minister, who came to the fore during the Orange Revolution that swept Ukraine in 2004 and 2005, are politically motivated, trumped up by current president Viktor Yanukovych. They also allege that Tymoshenko was beaten while in prison.

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Like mother like daughter – CNN spoke to Tymoshenko's daughter Eugenia about her mother's detention and alleged beating. The pictures caused a political firestorm, with many European leaders now boycotting the tournament.

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Political football – Dozens of European political figures have boycotted the event in protest at Tymoshenko's treatment, including the EU president and head of the EU commission Jose Manuel Barroso. Barroso is pictured here receiving an official Euro 2012 match ball from President Yanukovych just 18 months ago.

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The Orange Revolution – The controversy is a far cry from the euphoria that followed the Orange Revolution in 2004 and 2005. The uprising was sparked when Viktor Yushchenko lost the presidential election to the then prime minister Viktor Yanukovych after alleged voter fraud.

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Mr. President – Yushchenko was taken seriously ill during the uprising. His supporters alleged that he was deliberately poisoned to prevent him winning the election. But he survived and, after the allegations of vote fraud had provoked massive street protests, a new round of voting took place which Yushchenko won.

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Cover girl – Although Yushchenko had won the election it was the blonde-haired figure of Tymoshenko that captured the public's attention. She was appointed prime minister in the new government.

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All smiles – Here Tymoshenko meets with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Although it was all smiles on the international stage, domestically Tymoshenko and President Yushchenko were locked in a bitter power struggle.

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Regime change – The Ukrainian people had had enough of the infighting, and made a decisive decision in the 2010 presidential elections. Yushchenko received just 5% of the vote while Tymoshenko narrowly lost to Yanukovych, who had lost the 2004 election. This time international observers judged the election to be free and fair.

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Predicting a riot – Preparations for Euro 2012 did not run smoothly. The new president promised to allay UEFA's concerns over the slow building work. Here Ukrainian riot police practice ahead of the arrival of tens of thousands of football fans from across Europe. But there are still some worries. Amnesty International issued a warning to fans that Ukraine's police exhibited "criminal" behavior.

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Sun sets on Kiev? – The preparations were completed and Ukraine now awaits the biggest sporting event to ever take place in the country's history. But how many European heads of state will actually turn up for the final at the $500 million Olympic Stadium in the capital Kiev on July 1?

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Saying goodbye – That will largely depend on the fate of Tymoshenko, pictured here kissing her daughter Eugenia goodbye after being convicted last year. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of several politicians watching and waiting before making a decision.

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EXPAND GALLERY

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Road to the Champions League final

While admitting UEFA had taken a risk in giving Euro 2012 to Poland and Ukraine, Platini insisted he had no regrets about the European governing body's decision to award the tournament to the two Eastern European neighbors.

"Four years ago when all the slides were red, red, red, red, red -- stadium, roads, accommodation was red, red, red, red it was not easy. OK we took the risk but I say it was a good risk."

As well as dealing with the political fall-out from Ukraine's strained relationship with the West, UEFA is implementing a set of financial regulations -- Financial Fair Play (FFP) - that are designed to compel most teams to live within their means.

The FFP rules apply now but will come fully into force in 2014.

But this new stringent financial regime has raised the question as to whether UEFA would prevent a big-spending team like Manchester City, which has incurred large debts after spending up to $1.5B on winning the English Premier League (EPL) for the first time this season, from competing in the Champions League.

"I'm happy for them," said Platini, as he congratulated City on their title success. "But they will know what we will do. And if they are in the Financial Fair Play they will play our competition but we will look at them like we will look at everyone else.

"We prepare everything with the clubs -- we gave them four years to prepare something for the future," added Platini. "We will never go back."

Technology opposed

The former Nancy and Juventus midfielder and French captain, who led France when they won the European Championships in 1984, remains equally resolute in his opposition to FIFA's likely introduction of goal-line technology in the summer.

The EPL wants to introduce goal-line technology as early as next season if football's rule-makers -- The International Football Association Board (IFAB) -- sanction its use in July.

"I'm against the technology," said Platini. "If you say OK to goal-line technology, then it is offside technology, then penalty area technology, and we stop the football. I want human people -- it's easy. I understand the fans because they want justice but with an additional referee we have the same justice."

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has indicated he is in favor of goal-line technology and would like to see it in place for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but Platini has not given up all hope that the Swiss may still change his mind.

"I am football, he is political." said Platini. "He changes his mind. He said last year in the IFAB never technology, never. This year he changed, he's says let's go technology. I hope next year he will say no technology."

Looking ahead to Saturday's showpiece event between Chelsea and Bayern, Platini insisted that that best two teams had reached the final, despite the widely held view that their respective semifinal opponents -- Barcelona and Real Madrid -- are Europe's strongest teams.

"Could be, but the result is there -- it's Bayern Munich against Chelsea. I didn't see Barcelona be better than Chelsea and I didn't see Real Madrid be better than Bayern in these games," said the UEFA president.

Surprising season

"Everything was surprising -- the non-qualification of some of the English teams to the second round, the fact that Chelsea and Bayern were not favorites for the semifinals and they beat Barcelona and Real Madrid. It has been incredible year for the legend of the cup."

Next season will be the 20th anniversary of the Champions League, which was formerly known as the European Cup.

Asked to single out his favorite finals, Platini picked Liverpool's win over AC Milan 2005 and Barcelona's triumph in 2011.

"Istanbul, was an incredible game for Liverpool against Milan and last year's final between Barcelona and Manchester United was a great, great game with a great atmosphere at the stadium."